Shut Up and Drive

A UC Berkeley study has found that banning cellphone use while driving has decreased traffic deaths by 22 percent. Is anyone surprised? 

During the four year study period, the number of deaths among drivers using hand-held cellphones dropped from 100 to 53, and the number of injuries fell from 7,720 to 3,862, the Associated Press reports.

But it's distraction in general that's the problem, not just cellphone use. Anything from changing the radio station to shaving in the car has the potential to cause an accident. And text messaging is 23 times more risky than driving while not distracted, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In an effort to curb distracted driving, the government website Distraction.gov provides statistics and information on the dangers of distracted driving, as well as a series of stories about people who have been killed due to drivers texting and talking on cellphones.

The Star Tribune reports:

The number of deaths among drivers using hand-held phones fell from 100 to 53 during that period, while the number of injuries dropped from 7,720 to 3,862...Police should be on watch for erratic drivers no matter if they are distracted by cellphones, putting on makeup, shaving, or changing compact discs in a stereo system.

Yes, good point.